2015

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) ON

HOUSEHOLD SHELTERS AND STOREY
SHELTERS
Building and Construction Authority
Civil Defence Shelter Engineering Department
Special Functions Group
Table of Contents
Q1 How do I submit household shelter (HS), storey shelter (SS)
or staircase storey shelter (SSS) plans for approval?
Formal application for approval of HS/SS plans shall be submitted via CORENET e-Submission
System (www.corenet.gov.sg) to BCA. Every submission must be accompanied by the relevant
application form.
Q2 Where can I obtain application forms for shelter design
consultations and submission of shelter plans and
commissioning?
Application forms can be obtained from CORENET e-Submission System website
(www.corenet.gov.sg).
Q3 Where can I obtain the design requirements and guidelines
on submission procedure relating to the design, construction
and commissioning of HS/SS?
You can obtain them free of charge by downloading the technical requirements and guidelines from
the following links:
 Technical Requirements for Household Shelters (4.7Mb .pdf)
 Technical Requirements for Storey Shelters (7.2Mb .pdf)
 Technical Requirements for Precast Household Shelters (5.1Mb .pdf)
 Technical Requirements issued via Circulars by SCDF
 Guidelines for Plan Submission, Construction and Commissioning of Household or Storey
Shelters (159Kb .pdf)
Q4 Besides applying for formal pre-submission consultation, is
there another avenue for seeking consultation on HS/SS design?
Yes. Qualified Person (QP) responsible for building design can make appointment via BCA e-booking
system (https://www.bca.gov.sg/eHSCS/) anywhere at any time for consultation with BCA officers at
10th storey, 52 Jurong Gateway Road. Using e-booking system, QPs are able to obtain timely
consultation services and thus manage their work schedule more efficiently.
Q5 What are the types of developments for which HS/SS need
to be provided?
Under the Civil Defence Shelter Act, every new residential house or building must be provided with
household shelter and/or storey shelter that are constructed on vacant land or in place of
building/houses which have been demolished or would be demolished.
Q6 What are the types of developments for which HS/SS need
not be provided?
Non-residential developments need not be provided with HS/SS including:
 Any hotel registered under the provisions of the Hotel Act;
 Serviced apartments and staff housing/quarters;
 Institutions such as welfare homes, homes for the aged, homes for the disabled, halfway
house and nursing homes;
 All temporary buildings referred in the Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations;
 Hostels or halls of residence in educational institutions;
 Residential clubs (e.g. NTUC holiday resorts) and boarding/guest house (e.g. YMCA); and
 Dormitories in campsites and chalets.
Q7 Are HS/SS required to be provided in A & A works to
existing residential houses/buildings?
HS/SS are not required to be provided in existing houses/buildings undergoing addition and alteration
(A&A) works.
Q8 Are HS/SS required to be provided in reconstruction
projects?
HS/SS have to be provided for reconstruction projects that involve construction of new building or
house in place of existing building or house which has been demolished or would be demolished.

For proposals with reconstruction of existing building, Qualified Person (QP) is to seek consultation
with SCDF and obtain a written confirmation where provision of HS/SS is not required. This written
confirmation shall be obtained before submitting plans to BCA for approval.
Q9 Who should I consult whether my development works
require HS/SS?
As the provision requirement of HS/SS in the residential developments is governed by Civil Defence
Shelter Act 1997 which is administered by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), you may
consult SCDF at 1800 286 5555.
Q10 When can I expect a reply from BCA after I have made an
application?
You can expect to obtain reply from BCA within 10 working days.
Q11 What are the renovation works not allowed for HS/SS?
As HS/SS are made up of strengthened wall, floor, ceiling and HS/SS door, they must not be hacked
or drilled indiscriminately. Certain finishes and fixtures are not permitted as they may become
hazards to shelter occupants during a war emergency. Lighting, power socket outlets, telephone point
and radio/TV outlet points are also not allowed to be removed as they are essential for occupants to
remain inside and communicate with external parties.

The list of permitted and not permitted work can be downloaded here:
 Permitted and Not Permitted Works for HS (68kb .pdf)
 Permitted and Not Permitted Works in SS (14kb .pdf)
Q12 What are the details required to be shown in HS/SS building
plans?
The required details are given in the e-application form for the approval of HS/SS plans. You may
view the form by clicking this link: BCA-CD-PLAN02.
Q13 What are the details required to be shown in HS/SS
structural plans?
The HS/SS structural plans submitted must be completed with the required details:

 floor plans indicating the shelter location;

 vertical & horizontal sections through the shelter tower (including non-shelter) showing the
reinforcement details;
 cross sectional details of openings such as the blast door opening, ventilation sleeve opening
and blast hatch opening (applicable for SS);
 footing or pilecap plans (if footing is integrated with HS / SS slab);
 details of transfer beam or slab (if applicable); and
 design calculations on unshielded non-shelter wall or transfer structure supporting HS/SS
tower (if applicable)
Q14 After Notice/s of Approval (NOA) for HS/SS plan is/are
obtained, do I need to re-submit amendment plans for approval if
there are changes to HS/SS design?
Amendment plans are to be submitted for approval for these changes:
 shelter building layout design that affects HS/SS setback distances:

 structural layout of transfer structures (if any) supporting shelter tower;

 shelter building layout design that affects HS/SS tower;

 HS/SS clear height that affects the wall thickness;

 gross floor area of dwelling unit that affects HS/SS area and volume;

 location of HS/SS door or/and ventilation sleeves.

Q15 Can I submit HS/SS structural plans for approval before the
approval of HS/SS building plans?
To avoid abortive structural design work, submission of HS/SS structural plans should be submitted
after Notice of Approval (NOA) for HS/SS building plans has been obtained.
Q16 When can I commence the structural works for HS/SS?
Structural works for HS/SS can only commence after receipt of “NOA for Shelter Structural Plans”
from Civil Defence Shelter Engineering Department (CDSD) of BCA and “Permit to Commence Work”
from Building Engineering Group of BCA.
Q17 Is the HS/SS piling plans required to be submitted to Civil
Defence Shelter Engineering Department (CDSD) for approval?
HS/SS piling plans are not required to be submitted to CDSD for approval.
Q18 Who should I submit application for waiver of technical
requirements?
Application for waiver of technical requirements is to be submitted to SCDF via CORENET e-
Submission System (www.corenet.gov.sg). Application form for waiver of technical requirements can
be downloaded from www.corenet.gov.sg.
Q19 Do qualified persons (QP) need to arrange for structural
inspection of HS/SS walls/slabs before casting?
It is not necessary to arrange a structural inspection with BCA before concreting of HS/SS wall/slab. It
is the responsibility of the qualified person (QP) to ensure that HS/SS are constructed in accordance
with the approved plans.

However, to facilitate BCA in carrying out random site inspection, qualified persons (QP) are advised
to submit HS/SS work schedule, after obtaining approval of shelter structural plans, to Civil Defence
Shelter Engineering Department (CDSD) of BCA.
Q20 Is a first HS/SS in a residential development project
required for commissioning inspection?
Application for commissioning of the first HS/SS is not mandatory. However, qualified persons can
apply for commissioning inspection of first HS/SS to be commissioned first if they are unfamiliar with
HS/SS construction and commissioning. This first commissioned HS/SS shall serve as the reference
for other HS/SS in the same project development.
Q21 What are the necessary works required to conduct HS/SS
commissioning inspection?
The qualified person is to ensure readiness of HS/SS for commissioning inspection by completing
and submitting the checklist before applying for commissioning inspection to Civil Defence Shelter
Engineering Department (CDSD) of BCA.

Besides this, the approved HS/SS building and structural plans shall be provided at the time of
HS/SS commissioning inspection.
Q22 Are there any guidelines in selecting the number of HS/SS
for project commissioning inspection and over-pressure air-
tightness test?
Yes. The sample size for household shelter and storey shelter project commissioning inspection is
given in the “Guidelines for Plan Submission, Construction and Commissioning of Household or
Storey Shelters” as follows:

Table 1 – Household Shelter sample size

Number of HS in each Project (or Block-basis) Number of HS samples Selected for

request of commissioning inspections Project HS Commissioning
1-5 1
6-20 2
21-100 5
> 100 5% of total units to be commissioned

Table 2 – Storey Shelter sample size

Number of SS compartments in each Project Number of SS compartment samples

(or Block-basis) request of commissioning Selected for Project SS
inspections Commissioning
1-5 1
6-10 2
11-30 3
31-50 4
> 50 8% of SS compartments to be commissioned
Q23 When should I apply for project commissioning of HS/SS?
Qualified persons shall apply for project commissioning of HS/SS at least five working days before
the proposed date of HS/SS commissioning. Application shall be accompanied with a completed
checklist endorsed by the QP.
Q24 When can I re-apply for commissioning inspection if the
HS/SS fail the project commissioning inspection?
The re-application for commissioning inspection should be made by the qualified person via
Correspondence to Agency e-form (click this link: ESS-CORR) at least 14 working days before the
proposed date of HS/SS commissioning.

The Notice of Approval for Commissioning of Project HS/SS will be issued when all the HS/SS
samples for the entire project (or block-basis) passed the commissioning inspection.